Reading 10
By "Mazin Alzamil"
Read the text and answer the questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Multigenerational Families
In some areas of the world, multigenerational families have always lived together in the same house. A multigenerational family is a family of different generations, for example, grandparents, parents, and children. In the United States, from 1940 through 2000, multigenerational living decreased. Americans dreamed of growing up, leaving their family home, and having a home of their own. Having one’s own home was a status symbol. It showed that a person was independent and financially prosperous. Grandparents, too, seemed happy with this arrangement. They saved enough money throughout their life to be able to live independently through their retirement years and to pay for outside care if they became ill.
It has only been in recent years that this trend has begun to change. A slower economy and fewer jobs have caused people to have less money than they once did. Americans are beginning to find it too expensive to live separately. The Clark family from Virginia is a good example of this phenomenon. The Clarks are a multigenerational family that were living in three different houses. The great-grandparents lived in an expensive retirement home, the grandparents lived in their large, old family home, and the parents lived with their two young children in a small apartment. All of the family members were struggling financially. They didn’t have enough money to live comfortably in their separate homes. So, the Clark family sold all three of their homes and bought one, large, old, wooden farmhouse that had enough room for all of them to live in comfort together. The Clarks say they are happier now that they are all together. They are now able to share the chores around the house as well as the cost of the house. And, while they were once too busy to see each other often, now they have more time to see each other as well as spend more time on leisure activities. So, for now at least, it looks like the trend of living in multigenerational families will continue in the United States.
Read the text and answer the questions. Choose the best answer to each question.
Multigenerational Families
In some areas of the world, multigenerational families have always lived together in the same house. A multigenerational family is a family of different generations, for example, grandparents, parents, and children. In the United States, from 1940 through 2000, multigenerational living decreased. Americans dreamed of growing up, leaving their family home, and having a home of their own. Having one’s own home was a status symbol. It showed that a person was independent and financially prosperous. Grandparents, too, seemed happy with this arrangement. They saved enough money throughout their life to be able to live independently through their retirement years and to pay for outside care if they became ill.
It has only been in recent years that this trend has begun to change. A slower economy and fewer jobs have caused people to have less money than they once did. Americans are beginning to find it too expensive to live separately. The Clark family from Virginia is a good example of this phenomenon. The Clarks are a multigenerational family that were living in three different houses. The great-grandparents lived in an expensive retirement home, the grandparents lived in their large, old family home, and the parents lived with their two young children in a small apartment. All of the family members were struggling financially. They didn’t have enough money to live comfortably in their separate homes. So, the Clark family sold all three of their homes and bought one, large, old, wooden farmhouse that had enough room for all of them to live in comfort together. The Clarks say they are happier now that they are all together. They are now able to share the chores around the house as well as the cost of the house. And, while they were once too busy to see each other often, now they have more time to see each other as well as spend more time on leisure activities. So, for now at least, it looks like the trend of living in multigenerational families will continue in the United States.
